Benito vicente gauges



(No Model.) Y

B. V. GARCES. ROPE 0R SIMILAR RAILWAY.

No. 429,235. Patented June 3, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENITO VICENTE GAROES, OF MADRID, SPAIN.

ROPE OR SIMILAR RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,235, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed November 13, 1889. Serial No. 230,208.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENITO VICENTE GAR-; 01 1s, a subject of the King of Spain, residing at Madrid, Spain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or relating to Rope or Similar Railways, (for which I have obtained a patent in Spain, No. 9,495, hearing date April 16, 1889,) of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to conveying apparatus serving through the combination of its parts for transporting building and other materials or objects, the working of this system being based on the circulation of a number of small buckets, baskets, or receivers constructed of metal, wood, esparto, or other suitable material, and which succeed one another rapidly, and which, being loaded at one end of the track, may be caused automatically to deliver their contents at the other end, thus producing a continuous transference of materials. Y

The apparatus,thoug11 specially adapted for use in the construction of earth-works, is also applicable to requirements of contractors generally, or in any case where quantities of material or articles are required to be transported from place to place.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l represents an elevation of the complete conveying apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse section on an enlarged scale, showing the top portion of one of the support posts, columns, or pillars with its crossbeam and descending or outgoing and ascending or returning receivers. Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3, showing the manner of joining the post to the cross-beam and of the jointing of the rails. Fig. 5 represents the rail with the suspender for receivers, which are conveyed by a metal c.ble. Fig. 6 represents the same rail with the suspender for baskets which are conveyed by an ordinary chain.

In order to establish a line according to this invention, some posts A are fixed between the loading and unloading points at a uniform distance apart. These columns or posts are of wood, or, preferably, of iron of double-channel or H section, and are tapered at their lower ends in order to be able to easily penetrate into the ground. In these (No model.) Patented in Spain April 16. 1889, No. 9,495-

posts several holes are made to facilitate the posts being pulled up when the apparatus is being taken to pieces. I

On each column or post A is fitted a cross bar or V beam 13, threaded onto it and supported by a pin 0, which passes through both the postA and bar B. By providing the posts with holes the cross-bars can be raised or lowered at will in order to alter the inclination or height of the track.

As is seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the cross-bar B has two unequal arms. The shorter arm carries the outgoing line, on which the loaded baskets or receivers travel, while the longer arm only carries the returning line carrying the empty baskets in the same manner that the loaded and unloaded baskets nearly balance each other. Theline is, properly speaking, formed of parallel rails, each section of which is of precisely similar length to that existing between any two of the posts, these sections being fixed on the ends of the crossbars, Figs. 3 and 4, by which they are joined end to end. The rails at the ends of the track are bent in arcs of a circle in order to unite the return-line with the outgoing line, so as to form a continuous track. Suspenders D, with anti-friction rollers, arehung on these rails, and on these suspenders are hooked the buckets or baskets P. These suspenders are fixed at uniform distances apart on an endless chain E, which is of a suitable length and isguided between lateral friction-rollers G. The chain E is composed of sections or portions, each of which is equal in length to twice the distance between any two of the piles or posts. A cable of steel wire may be used in place of the chain, carrying at suitable distances apart blocks H, Fig. 5, preferably of lead, which blocks may be cast or otherwise fitted on the cable, and each of which will have a transverse slit to fit in the hollow D of the suspender D, Figs. 3 and 5. This form of suspender should not be employed excepting where a cable is used for the conveying apparatus. Each of the buckets or receivers I has a bottom which is capable of pivoting on a hinge, but which is normally supported by a bolt, pin, or catch, which is withdrawn or released when the receiver reaches the unloading or discharging station.

The opening or releasing of these bottoms may be automatically effected in the ordinary well-known way, which it is not deemed necessary to show or describe, being common in this class of apparatus. The motor apparatus M, which ought to be placed on the highest part of the track and as near as possible to the loading station, may be operated by any suitable power, preferably steam or horse. This motor will rotate a horizontal pulley L, the toothed or notched periphery of which will draw along the endless chain or cable, which at the other end of the track passes around the loose pulley R. The motor M, the pulley L, and the standards which support the bent rails at the end adjacent to the motor are supported on the same platform J, which is mounted 011 wheels.

The operation of the conveying apparatus is as follows: At the motor end of the apparatus aworkman unhooks the returning empty baskets, while another hooks 011 the full baskets which the navvies or excavators have brought to him-all this without stopping the motion of the endless chain which moves all the baskets along. For unloading, it suffices for the workman stationed at the desired spot to open the bottoms of the receivers or baskets without otherwise touching them or to allow of them being automatically opened, as before described. This system of transport permits of the earth or other material or articles being conveyed to the end of the track, no matter whatever the length of the line may be, or to any part throughout its length. In proportion as the earth or the like is re moved from the point of excavation and carried to the desired delivery-point the distance will increase in both. directions between the loading and unloading. It will therefore become necessary to lengthen the line. It will su ffice for that purpose, after having detached a link of the chain, to cause the platform J which carries the motor and the pulley L, to recede a distance equal to that which separates two of the posts or piles A, so that a section may then be added to the chain equal to twice the distance between two of the posts. The same result may be secured at the opposite end of the line by similarly displacing the pile or post which carries the loose pulley R and the bent rails adjacent thereto.

In order to change the direction of the line it suffices to fix some posts in the direction that it is desired the track shall operate in, the chain being guided on both sides by the anti friction pulleys G, retaining the suspenders D on the rails.

I c1ain1 1. In a eonveyin g or transporting apparatus, the combination, with a system of poles or posts, of cross-pieces secured thereon, with one arm longer than the other, the shorter arm being adapted to carry the loaded baskets and the longer arm the empty baskets, whereby the weight is balanced, substantially as described.

2. In conveying or transporting apparatus, a system of poles or posts, each at its upper end carrying a cross-beam, the height of which on the post may be varied by displacing a pin or bolt, and of whose unequal arms the shorter carries the loaded baskets or receivers and the longer the empty ones, substantially as herein described, and illustrated in the acconipanying drawings.

In conveying or transporting apparatus, a cable provided with blocks, such as H, adapted. to engage with the basket-suspenders, this cable being composed of equal portions, each twice as long as the distance between any two poles or posts, in order to permit of one such portion being added when one of the end posts is moved to a distance corresponding to the distance between any two of the posts, the said cable being guided on both sides by anti-friction rollers, which permit of the line or track being deviated without inconvenience, substantially as herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

BENITO VICENTE GARCES. iVitnesscs:

A. MEDINA PADILLO,

tnovnn FLINT. 

